Vikram Mistry has had it good in the U.S. Living in Madison, Wisconsin, he’s like every other American teen – carefree and with no regard for his parents, their roots and their toils and struggles to provide a comfortable life for his brother Anand and himself. His world comes crashing down when his father informs him they’re moving. His father has secured a new job – in India, where both of Vikram’s parents were born and his relatives reside. Thus unfolds the story of Vikram’s plight as he has to adjust to his new life in India at the age of eighteen – in many ways, despite the fact that he is Indian – an outsider, different and clearly in need of major adjustments. Antani does a wonderful job in painting a picture of what it’s like to live in India – juxtaposed against life in the U.S. He captures the longing, frustration and tribulations of Vikram as he reels against this “unfairness” – having to start life all over again in a somewhat foreign land, which essentially his father did without qualms when he uprooted himself from India to head to the U.S. years ago, to seek better opportunities for his wife and family. We journey with Vikram as he comes to terms with his new life, begins his adjustment and gradually begins to appreciate and value all things he shunned previously – appreciation for his parents, the sacrifices they have made, the value of family, right and wrong and, most importantly, taking responsibility. A delightful and insight novel as we walk alongside Vikram as he overcomes his own hang-ups and grows amid the sights and scenes of a multi-faceted India. A highly recommended read. I just finished reading The Leaving of Things and thoroughly enjoyed the writing. I surprisingly found myself in tears (I never cry when reading!) when Vik was leaving back for Madison and when he received that letter from Priya. This quote from the book has me speechless:"What you leave behind had its time and purpose, and, like all of life, goes the way of memory, lessons learned, sentiment, and history."Looking forward to the next masterpiece from Jay Antani!
What do You think about The Leaving Of Things (2013)?
" In spite of ourselves, we put down roots. When we’re least aware of it, we form kinships."
—MockingbirdLee
